Health and Sport Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Official Report 495KB pdf

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Petitions

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Deep Vein Thrombosis (PE1056)

I thank committee members again for their patience. We move now to agenda item 3. We have two petitions before us; we will consider PE1056 first.

I am sure that members will have had the opportunity to read through the information. The committee is invited to consider whether it wishes to write to the Scottish Government to request an update on the progress of all three strands of the petition, to close consideration of the petition, or to propose an alternative approach.

The petition has never been before this committee. I appreciate that Trish Godman did tremendous work on the issue in the past. I have read the papers that we have today and I would welcome our writing to the Scottish Government to get an update. That is my proposal.

Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you.

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Silicone Breast Implants (PE1378)

The next petition is PE1378, in the name of Mairi Johnston. It, too, has received much focus. The committee is invited to consider whether it wishes to write to the Scottish Government and/or the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to seek additional information, to close consideration, or to propose an alternative approach.

In this instance, Rhoda Grant has done the considerable work. Again, the petition has not been before this committee. I am concerned by what the petitioner has included in her submission to this committee, and I would welcome an update from the Scottish Government on the issue.

I should say that Rhoda Grant intended to speak to the committee this morning in support of the petition. With the disruptions, she has had to leave as she is now chairing the Labour group meeting.

Do we agree to write for additional information before we consider how to progress further?

We should also recognise as a committee that the health technology assessment of items rather than drugs has come in for considerable criticism recently. There may be a broader issue to which the committee might want to return later in this session of Parliament.

Thank you for that, Richard. Taking those comments into consideration, do we agree to write to the Scottish Government and MHRA to seek additional information?

Members indicated agreement.

We now move into private session.

13:02 Meeting continued in private until 13:14.